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4 NATIONALAERONAUTICSAND

SPACE ADMINISTRATION
Washington, D. C. 20546

_! 202-755-8370

FOR.RELEASE:
July 23, 1973

p PROJECT: Second 3
Manned Mission

R
E contents

S GENERAL RELEASE ..................... i_5


OBJECTIVES OF THE SKYLAB PROGRAm4 ....... 8-10

S OBJECTIVES
MISSION ..............................
OF THE SECOND MANNED SKYLAB 11-12

MISSION PROFILE: LAUNCH, DOCKING AND


DEORBIT ............... 13-18

COUNTDOWN AND LIFTOFF .................. 19-21

K REAL-TIME
SKYLAB FLIGHT
EXPERIMENTS PLANNING ..............
..................... 26-28
22-24

ACCOMPLISHMENTS ........................ 35-39

SKYLAB BETWEEN 'VISITS .... - ............. 40-42

T_ SKYLAB
SKYLAB STATUS:
AND RELATEDWHAT OBJECTS
HAPPENEDVISIBLE
..........
..... 29-34
43-44

NOTE: Details of the skylab spacecraft elements, systems, crew


equipment and experimental hardware are contained in the Skylab
News Reference distributed to the news media. The document also
defines the scientific and technical objectives of Skylab activi-
ties. This press kit confines its scope to the second manned
visit to Skylab and briefly describes features of the mission.
NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND
SPACE ADMINISTRATION
Washington, D. C. 20546
he 202/ 5s-8370
_J' "FOR.RELEASE:
William Pomeroy July 23, 1973
(Phone 202/755-3114)

RELEASE NO. 73-131

NEXT SKYLAB CREW GOES UP JULY 28

Three American astronauts will begin a two-month stay•

in space July 28 when the second Skylab crew is launched into

orbit to man the Skylab space station. The second crew will

further extend the long-term quest for knowledge about man's

home planet, his Sun and himself which was begun by the Sky-

lab 2 mission lasting 28 days.

The Skylab 3 crew will live and work aboard the space

station for up to 56 days while measuring the human adapta-

bility to long-duration spaceflight, conducting solar astron-

omy experiments above the distorting effects of the atmosphere,

and surveying conditions and resources down on the fragile

spacecraft Earth. Launched May 14, the Skylab space station

is in an orbit tilted 50 degrees to the equator and ranges

over most of the Earth's populated regions -- from the Canadian

Border to the tip of Argentina.

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Early in the space station's launch, known as Skylab i,

an aluminum micrometeoroid shield tore loose, taking with it

one of the large power-generating solar array panels on the

Skylab Workshop, and causinq higher-than-normal temperatures

in the Workshop living space. The first Skylab crewlaunch

was delayed for i0 days while sunshields were fabricated and

the crew was trained in erecting the shields. Once the tem-

peratures were brought down by the parasol-like device that

was deployed and the remaining solar array was freed by an

innovative EVA repair using tools aboard Skylab, the space

station settled down to a more or less normal operation.

The contingency repairs performed in-flight by the

Skylab 2 crew of Charles Conrad, Joseph Kerwin and Paul

Weitz, yielded an unexpected return by demonstrating that

man can indeed tackle difficult repair and construction

tasks in space.

In spite of the adversities at the outset of the first

manned Skylab mission, all planned operational objectives were

met, and much of the expected experimental data were gathered.

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Taking up where the first crew left off, the second Skylab

crew will double the information gained from medical experiments

that measure man's physical responses to long-term exposure to

weightlessness and other aspects of the space environment. The

Sun and its influence upon life on Earth will again Come under

scrutiny as the Skylab crew focuses the astronomical telescopes

and instruments of the Skylab space station toward our star some

93, million miles across space.

Closer to home, Skylab's Earth Resources Experiment Package

(EREP) will scan and photograph physical and environmental fea-

tures of the Earth*s surface and atmosphere in 26 planned EREP

"passes." Additionally, a group of scientific and technologic_l

experiments will be conducted during the 56 days of flight, <in -

cluding seven investigations selected in a nationwide competi-

tion among high school students.

Skylab 3 erewmen are Alan L. Bean, commander; Dr. Owen K.

Garriott, science pilot; and Jack R. Lousma, pilot. Bean is a

US Navy captain, Garriott a civilian scientist-astronaut , and

Lousma a US Marine Corps major. Bean was lunar module pilot on

the second manned lunar landing, Apollo 12, and with Apollo 12

commander Charles "Pete" Conrad, explored the region around the

Surveyor Ill landing site. Garriott and Lousma have not flown

in space.

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Liftoff for Skylab 3 is schediled for 7:08 a.m. EDT,

July 28 atop a Saturn IB from NASA Kennedy Space Center Launch

complex 39, Pad B. Rendezvous and docking will occur during


• [

the fifth command/service module orbit after a standard ren-

dezvous maneuver sequence.

After docking with the space station, the Skylab crew will

open the hatch, enter Skylab and begin to activate the station's

systems. Skylab crew work days begin at 6 a.m. and end at i0 p.m.

Houston time, Central Daylight.

Three EVAs are scheduled for the second crew: one to

deploy a twin-boom sunshield to replace the parasol erected

by the previous crew, and to the Sun end of the Apollo Tele-

scope Mount (ATM) to retrieve and replenish film cannisters.

The second and third EVAs will be for ATM retrieval and

replacement.

On September 22 the crew will undock the CSM from Skylab

to deorbit and land in the eastern Pacific, about 1,830 km

(990 nm)southwest of San Diego. Command module splashdown

will be at 8:38 p.m. EDT September 22. Prime recovery vessel

will be the landing platform-helicopter (LPH) USS New Orleans.

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The launch vehicles for the Skylab program are Saturn

multi-stage rockets developed by the NASA-MarShall Space

Flight Center for the Apollo Program. A two-stage Saturn V

placed the unmanned Skylab cluster into Earth orbit. This

was the 13th flight of a Saturn V. The smaller Saturn IB

vehicles carry Skylab crews into orbit to rendezvous and dock

with the orbiting space station. The seventh Saturn IB to be

launched will transport the Skylab 3 crew.

END OF GENERAL RELEASE ; BACKGROUND INFORMATION FOLLOWS)


\

How Skylab appeared at end of the first manned visit.


i

• How Skylab would look with twin-boom sunshade installed.


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OBJECTIVES OF THE SKYLAB PROGRAM

The Skylab Program was established for four explicit


purposes: to determine man's ability to live and work in
space for extended periods; to extend the science of solar
astronomy beyond the limits of Earth-based observations;
to develop improved techniques for surveying Earth resources
from space; and to increase man's knowledge in a variety
of other scientific and technological regimes.

Skylab, the first space system launched by the United


States specifically as a manned orbital research facility,
will provide a laboratory with features which cannot be
found anywhere on Earth. These include: a constant zero
gravity environment, Sun and space observation from above
the Earth's atmosphere, and a broad view of the Earth's
surface.

Dedicated to the use of space for the increase of


knowledge and for the practical human benefits that space
operations can bring, Skylab will pursue the following:

physical Science - Increase man's knowledge of the


Sun, its influence on Earth and man's existence, and its
role in the universe. Evaluate from outside Earth's
atmospheric filter, the radiation and particle environ-
ment of near-Earth space and the radiations emanating from
the Milky Way and remote regions of the universe.

Life Science - Increase man's knowledge of the


physiological and biological functions of living organisms -
human, other animal, _nd tissues by making observations
under conditions not obtainable on Earth.

Earth Applications - Develop techniques for observing


Earth phenomena from space in the areas of agriculture,
forestry, geology, geography, air and water pollution,
land use and meteorology.

Space Applications - Augment the technology base for


future space activities in the areas of crew/vehicle inter-
actions, structures and materials, equipment and induced
environments.

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The first Skylab mission achieved its three specific


objectives. They were as follows:

1. Establish the Skylab orbital assgmbl_ in Earth orbit.

a. Operate the spacecraft cluster (including CSM) as


a habitable space structure for up to 28 days after the
launch of the crew.

b. Obtain data for evaluating the total spaeecraf£


performance.

c. Obtain data for evaluating crew mobility and work


capability in both intravehicular and extravehicular
activity.

2. Obtain medical data on the crew for use in extendin 9 the


duration of manned space flight§ ,.

a. Obtain medical data for determining the effects on


the crew which result from a space flight of up to28 days
duration.

b. Obtain medical data for determining if a subsequent


Skylab mission of up to 56 days duration is feasible and
advisable.

3. Perform in-flight experiments.

a. Obtain ATM solar astronomy data for continuing and


extending solar studies beyond the limits of Earth from
low Earth orbit.

b. Obtain Earth resources data for continuing and


extending multisensor observation of the Earth from low
Earth orbit.

c. Perform the assigned scientific, engineering and


technology experiments.

The Gemini 7 mission had demonstrated that man could


readily adapt to space flight for up to two weeks without
ill effects. Now Skylab has pushed forward the threshold
of human adaptability to spaceflight by doubling Gemini 7's
time in space with the first Skylab crew.

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SKYLAB MAJOR EVENTS
(Central Daylight Time)

MISSION LAUNCH LANDING I ON


DURAT
, i
DAY:HR:MI
N

SL-1 MAY14- 12:30P


CDT
(134:17:30
GMP)

SL-2 MAY25 - 8:00ACDT JUNE22 - 8:50ACDT , 28:00:.50 ,_,


o
I

(145:13:00
GMT) (173:13:50
GMT)

SL-3 JULY28 - 6:08ACDT SEPT22 - 7:38PCDT 56:13:1)0


(209:11:08
GNAT) (266:00:._
GMT)

SL-4 TBD TBD 56DAYS

*DAYOFYEAR:HR:MIN in Greenwich Mean Tfme

• •6

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OBJECTIVES OF THE SECOND MANNED SKYLAB MISSION

The second Skylab mission officially began June 22


when the first CSM and its crew separated from the space
station just prior to reentry. The unmanned portion of
this SL-3 mission will continue until the second crew
is launched. After docking, the SL-3 crew will enter
Skylab, reactivate its systems, and proceed to inhabit
and operate the orbftal assembly for up to 56 days.
During this time the crew will perform systems and
•operational tests and the assigned experiments.

The four objectives of the second Skylab mission


are as follows:

i. Perform unmanned Saturn Workshop operations

a. Obtain data for evaluating the performance of


the unmanned station.

b. Obtain solar astronomy data by unmanned ATM


observations.

2. Reactivate and Man'Skylab in Earth orbit

a. Operate the cluster (SWS plus CSM) as a habitable


space structure for up to 56 days after the SL-3 launch.

b. Obtain data for evaluating the performance of


the space station.

o. Obtain data for evaluating crew mobility and work


capability in both intravehicular and extravehicular activity.

3. Obtain medical data on the crew for use in extending the


duration of manned space flights

a. Obtain medical data for determining the effects


on the crew which result from a space flight of up to 56
days duration.

b. Obtain medical data for determining if a subsequent


Skylab mission of greater than 56 days duration is feasible
and advisable.

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4. Perform in-flight experiments

a. Obtain ATM solar astronomy data for continuing and


extending solar studies beyond the limits of Earth-based
observations.

b. Obtain E_rth resources data for continuing and


extending multisensor observations from Earth orbit.

o. Perform the assigned scientific, engineering,


technology and DOD experiments.

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MISSION PROFILE: Launch, Docking and Deorbit

Skylab 3, the second manned visit to the Skylab space


station, will be launched at 7:08 am EDT July 28 from
NASA Kennedy Space Center Launch Complex 39 Pad B _or a fifth-
orbit rendezvous with the space station. _he Skylab space
station, designated Skylab l, was launched into an initial
431x432.9km (233 by 234 nm) orbit which is expected to be
424.6 by 439.5km ( 229x237 nm) at Skylab 3 rendezvous.

The standard five-step rendezvous maneuver sequence will


be followed to bring the Skylab 3 CSM into the space station's
orbit---two phasing maneuvers, a corrective combination maneuver,
a coelliptic maneuver, terminal phase initiation and braking.
The CSM will dock with Skylab's axi_l docking port at about eight
hours 20 minutes after launch.

After verifying that all docking latches are secured, the


Skylab3 crew will begin actication of the space station, but
will sleep aboard the command module the first night.

Timekeeping will be on a ground-elapsed-time (GET) basis


until Skylab 3 GET of eight hours, after which timing will
switch over to day of year (DOY), or mission day (MD), and
Greenwich Mean Time (GMT or "Zulu") within each day. Mission
day 1 will be the day the crew is launched.

At the completion of the 56-day manned operation period,


the crew will board the CSM, undock and perform two deorbit
burns---the first of which will lower CSM perigee to 166.5 km
(90 nm) and the second burn will again lower perigee to an
atmospheric entry flight path. Splashdown will be in the eastern
Pacific about 1830 km (990 nm) southwest of San Diego, Calif.
after 874 CSM revolutions. Splashdown coordinates are
23028 ' N, 129o26'W. Command module touchdown time will be
8:38 pm EDT September 22.

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Skylab 3 (Second manned launch)

Event Date Time (EDT)

Launch July 28 7:08:50a.m.

Orbitalinsertion 7:18:53a.m.

CSM/S-IVB separation, 3 fps RCS 7:33:50 a.m.

Phasing 1 (NCI), 221.1 fps SPS 9:26:19 a.m.

Phasing 2 (NC2), 158 fps SPS 11:42:12 a.m.

Corrective combination (NCC), 29.6 fps SPS 12:28:21 p.m.

Coelliptic (NSR), 19.2 fps SPS i:05:21 p.m.

Terminal Phase initiate (TPI), 20.9 fps SPS 2:21:12 p.m.

Terminal phase finalize (TPF), 27.3 fps SPS 2:54:54 p.m.

Docking 3:38:50
p.m.

Orbit trim burn i, 2.4 fps RCS August 1 10:04:18 a.m.

Orbit trim burn 2, 1.4 fps RCS August 26 10:36:11 p.m.

Orbit trim burn 3, 1.3 fps RCS Sept. 17 9:26:12 p.m.

Undocking Sept. 22 3:21:33 p.m.

Separation,5 fps RCS 4:08:19p.m.

Shaping burn, 258.5 fps SPS 4:55:33 p.m.

Deorbit burn, 191.9 fps SPS 7:57:11 p.m.

Entry interface (400,000 feet) 8:22:35 p.m.

Landing at 23o28, N x 129°26 _ W 8:38:29 p.m.


m

-Z5-

RENDEZVOUSSEQUENCE

"" SKYLAB ORBIT


\
\

\ \

OF MOTION
DIRECTION
/

TPF

DELTAV, RESULTANT
TIME, G.E,T.t ADDED FT. PERIGEE/APOGEE,
HR:MIN:SEC PERSECOND N. M[.

INS INSERTION 00:10:03.1 _ 81/120


SEPARATION
SEP MANEUVER 00:25:00.0 3.0 81/121

NCI PHASING I 02:17:29,4 221.1 120/208


NPC PLANE CHANGE PLANE CHANGE l IF NECESSARY.
NC2 PHASING 2 04:33:22,8 158.0 202/215
CORRECTIVE
NCC COMBINATION 05:19:31.7 29.6 208/228

NSR COELLIPTIC 05:56:31o7 19.2 219/227


TERMINAL PHASE
TPI INITIATION 07:12:22.0 20.9 223/234

TERMINAL PHASE
TPF FINALIZATION • 07:46:04.0 27.3 230/238
DCK DOCKING 08:30:00
ML73-2330
ORBIT TRIM ADJUSTMENT MANEUVERS
8O

60 TRIM-1
2.0 fps TRIM-2
.5 fps

4O
• gO
kl.l

=_,
I
20
0

< PRE-MISSION
_" 0
_- NOMINAL TRIM-1
MD 5 TRIM-5
o,v 2.4 fps TRIM-2 MD 53
c_ MD 31 1.3 fps
"1.4 fps
2O
I--
U'3
<

F'/_
sL2_//'A F////////Z
SL3"////////A
40 I I I I I I I
0 20 40 60 80 i00 120 140 150
DAYS FROM SL-1 LAUNCH
END OF MISSION SEQUENCE FOR SL-3 SPS DEORBIT
SEPARATION BURN SHAPING (SPS-I)
UNDOCKING AND
BEGIN FLYAROUND
ASC

DARKNESS

19:00 19:10 19:20 19:30 .19:40 19:50 20:00 20:10 20:20 20:30 20:40 20:50 21:00 21:I0 21:20 21:30
TIME FROM 00:00 SEPTEMBER 22, G.M.T., NR:MIfl

DEORBIT (SPS-2)
MIL
I
,M
I

21:30 21:40 21:50 22:00 22:10 22:20 22:30 22:40 22:50 23:00 23:10 23:20 23:30 _ 23:40 23:50 24:00

ENTRY INTERFACE
(400,000 FT) LANDING

I
i,,,,l,,,,(,,,,i,,,,f,,,,i,,,,l,,,,l,,,,1,,,,l,_,,l,1_,f,,,.,f,,,,l,,,,f,,,,f.
24:00 24:10 24:20 24:30 24:40 24:50 25:00 25:10 25:20 25:30 25:40 25:50 26:00 26:10 26:20 26:30
Entry interface ' i _ 4 i • : . , ,
Geodetic latltude=41.37°N : i_ .'_ ' _ _ i
Longitude = 155.12°W _ ' ,

l* t

40!-_

2O

!-

160 150 140 130 120


WEST LONGITUDE, bEG
CM reentry track and maneuver envelope SW of NAS North Island, San Diego
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COUNTDOWN AND LIFTOFF

After the May 25•launch of the first crew to man Skylab


the mobile launcher was brought back to the Vehicle Assembly
Building at the NASA Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The
stages of the next Saturn IB launch vehicle and boilerplate
spacecraft were erected on the mobile launcher, beginning
May 28.

Integrated testing of the launch vehicle stages was


conducted while the spacecraft underwent thorough testing,
including simulated flights in the altitude chamber, in the
Manned Spacecraft Operations Building at KSC's industrial
area.

On June 8, the flight spacecraft was moved to the VAB


and erected atop the launch vehicle three days later, the
fully assembled space vehiclewas moved to Launch Couplex 39,
Pad B for pad integration and final tests prior to the
launch countdown.

The countdown for this third Skylab launch differs


from previous ones in that the Countdown Demonstration
test CDDT and the final countdown have been incorporated
into a single launch countdown. The early portion of the
count will include launch vehicle cryogenic fueling and
final countdown activities without astronaut participation.

Following the simulated T-O, the count will be recycled


to the T-47 hour mark instead of recycling for a dry test
with crew participation, then going through the entire count
again as had been done on earlier missions.

Key events in the final count, beginning at T-47 hours

include:

T-45 hours 30 minutes Install launch vehicle batteries

T-39 hours Launch vehicle power trans-


fer test

T-36 hours Command service module cryo-


genic fueling. Takes approx-
mately 6 hours

T-26 hours Complete CSM mechanical buildup.


Takes approximately 12 hours

T-9 hours Begin clearing pad area

T-8 hours Replenish RP-I (first stage


fuel)

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T-6 hours 50 minutes Begin launch vehicle cryogenic


propellant load. (Loading
takes approximately 3 hours
replenish continues through
remainder of countdown)

T&4 hours Primary damper retracted

T-3 hours 45 minutes CSM closeout crew on station

T-2 hours 40 minutes Flight crew enters spacecraft

T-I hour 51 minutes Emergency detection system


tests (to T-I hour, 21 minutes)

T-57 minutes Clear closeout crew from pad


area

T-45 minutes Retract swing arm 9 to park


position

T-44 minutes Arm Launch Escape System

T-42 minutes Final launch vehicle range


safety check (to T-35 minutes)

T-35 minutes Last target update of the LYDC


for rendezvous with the OWS

T-15 minutes Hold for liftoff adjustment -


maximum 2 minutes

T-5 minutes Swing arm 9 fully retracted

T-3 minutes 7 seconds Start automatic sequence

T-50 seconds Launch vehicle transfer to


internal power

T-3 seconds Ignition sequence starts

T-0 Liftoff
SL-3(SATURN
IB)LAUNCHEVENTS "

Time Event Vehicle Wt Altitude Velocity Ranse


Hrs Min See Kilograms Meters Mtrs/Sec Kilometers
(Pounds)* (Feet)* _t/Sec)* (Naut Mi)*

" 00 O0 O0 First Motion 586,647 90 1.8 0


(1,293,314) (292) (5.9) (0)

00 Ol 13 Maximum Dynamic Pressure 375,026 12,599 473 4.2


(826,776) (41,334) (1,552) (2.3)

00 02 16 Inboard Engine Cutoff 190,013 56,167 1,976 57


(418,900) (184,275) (6,483) (31)

00 02 19 Outboard Engine Cutoff 184,822 59,152 2,033 62


(407,455) (194,069) (6,669) (34)
I
00 02 21 S-IB/S-IVB Separation 184,059 60,522 2,032 65
(405,774) (198,562) (7,781) (35) l

O0 02 22 S-IVB Ignition 138,028 61,821 2,064 67


(304,294) (202,826) (6,771) (36)

00 02 49 Launch Escape Tower Jettison 132,141 86,160 "2,119 117


(291,317) (282,676) (6,953) (63)

00 09 03 S-IB Stage Impact 45,370 0 90 503


(i00,021) (0) (295) (271)

00 09 53 S-IVB EngineCutoff 30,749 158,402 7,561 1,807


(67,789) (519,692) (24,807) ,(975)

00 i0 03 Orbit Insertion 30,694 158,544 7,568 1,881


(67,668) (520,157) (24,829) (1,015)

*English measurements given in parentheses


-22-

SKYLAB EXPERIMENTS

The Skylab space station carries the largest array


of experimental scientific and technical instruments the
United States has ever flown in space, a total of 58. They
fall into four general categories: life sciences, Earth
resources, solar physics and corollary. Data received will
permit 200 principal investigators to supervise 271 scientific
and technical investigations. While most of the detailed
experiment runs are planned pre-mission, there are occasions
when specific observations are scheduled in real-time to take
advantage of an unique opportunity, such as the solar flare
and Hurricane Ava that developed during the first manned mission.

Skylab medical experiments are aimed toward measuring


man's ability to live and work in space for extended periods
of time, his responses and aptitudes in zero gravity, and his
ability to readapt to Earth gravity once he returns to a
one-g fiel d .

Earth resources experiments (EREP) employ six devices


to advance the technology of remote sensing and at the same
time gather data applicable to research in agriculture, for-
estry, ecology, geology, geography, meteorology, hydrology,
hydrography and oceanography through surveys of site/task
combinations such as mapping snow cover and water runoff pot-
entials; mapping water pollution; assessing crop conditions;
determining sea state; classifying land use; and determining
land surface composition and structure. On days that EREP
passes are scheduled, the JSC News Center will publish site/task
guides identifying principal investigators, specific locations
or areas and scientific disciplines. The second manned mission
has 26 EREP passes scheduled, including one pass over the
Japanese island chain. Eleven EREP passes were run on the first
manned visit out of 15 that had been scheduled.

ATM solar astronomy experiments utilize an array of eight


telescopes and sensors to expand knowledge of our planet's Sun
and its influence upon the Earth. Almost 82 hours, 80 percent
of the premission scheduled ATM experiment time, were logged by
the first Skylab crew while gathering some 17,000 frames of ATM
film. _ Some 45,000 frames 0f ATM film will be available for the
next manned mission.

A wide range of experiments falls into the corollary cate-


gory, ranging from stellar astronomy and materials processing
in zero-g to the evaluation of astronaut manuvering devices for
future extravehicular operations.

Seven experiments selected through a national secondary


school competition in the Skylab Student Project are also
issigned to the second manned mission.

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Experiments assigned to second Skylab mission are listed below

In-flight medical experiments (on all missions):

M071 Mineral Balance


M073 Bioassay of Body Fluids
M074 Specimen Mass Measurement
M092 Lower Body Negative Pressure
M093 Vectorcardiogram
MII_
Sl13_
MII4 _ Series, Hematology and Immunology

MI31 Human Vestibular Function


M133 Sleep Monitoring
MI51 Time and Motion Study
MI71 Metabolic Activity
M172 Body Mass Measurement
(These are three ground-based medical experiments -
M078 ,Mlll and Mll2 involving pre- and post-flight data.)

Earth Resources Experiment Package (EREP) experiments (on all


missions) :

S190 Multispectral Photographic Facility comprised of:


SI90A Multispectral Photographic Cameras
S190B Earth Terrain Camera
sl91 Infrared Spectrometer
S192 Multispectral Scanner
S193 Microwave Radiometer/Scat£erometer and Altimeter
s194 L-Band Radiometer

The ATM experiments (on all missions):

S052 White Light Coronagraph


$054 X-Ray Spectrographic Telescope
S055A Ultraviolet Scanning Polychromator-Spectroheliometer
S056 Extreme Ultraviolet and X-Ray Telescope
SO82A Coronal Extreme Ultraviolet Spectroheliograph
S082B Chromospheric Extreme Ultraviolet
(Two hydrogen-alpha telescopes are nsed to point the
ATM instruments and to provide TV and photographs of
the solar disk.)
-24-

The corollary experiments:

M508 AstronautManeuvering Equipment


M512 Materials Processing Facility
M516 Crew Activities/Maintenance Study
* M555 Gallium Arsenide Crystal Growth
* S015 Zero-g Single Hunman Cells
$019 Ultraviolet Stellar Astronomy
S063 Ultraviolet Airglow Horizon Photography
# S071 Circadian Rhythm Pocket Mice
# S072 Circadian Rhythm Vinegar Gnats
S073 Gegenschein/ZodiacalLight
S149 Particle Collection
S150 Galactic X-Ray Mapping
$230 Magnetospheric Particle Collection
T003 Inflight Aerosal Analysis
T020 Foot-Controlled Maneuvering Unit

The student investigations:

# ED21 Libration Clouds


# ED25 X-Rays from Jupiter
# ED32 In-Vitro Inlmunology
# ED52 Web Formation
# ED 63 Cytoplasmi c Streaming
# ED74 Mass Measurement
ED76 Neutron Analysis

* Deferred from Skylab 2

# Unique to Skylab 3

(Details of the above experiments may be found in Skylab


Experiments Overview, available from the Government Printing
Office (Stock No. 3300-0461) $1.75/copy; or from experiment
booklets and manuals in the KSC and JSC Newsrooms.)
PLANNED EREP PASSES

_,.-_ . . •
/
%_" \ '_% %. 'b%
",.\

\_ _ _"

I
O 10
llli" I
20 30
SL-3 MISSION DAY
I
40
' 1

I
50 60
I

• LUNAR CALIBRATION AFTER EREP PASS. **A_TD AFRICA.


12
-26-

REAL-TIME FLIGHT PLANNING

Time was when pre-mission flight plans were followed "by


the numbers" with few changes except those caused by systems
malfunctions. Skylab flight planning, however, is almost wholly
done in real-time, with the pre-mission flight plan serving
mainly as a guide to Mission Control Center flight planners.
Each day's flight plan is designed to yield the highest experi-
ment data return.

Teleprintered to the Skylab space station early in the morning


before the crew wakens, the daily flight plan takes advantage
of unique opportunities that enhance data gathering for particular
experiments. For example, forecasts of cloud-free EREP sites
and ground observatory predictions of unusual solar activity have
a bearing upon when EREP passes and ATM runs are scheduled in
the flight plan.

The Skylab flight planning cycle begins at midnight Houston


time (CDT) with a team of flight planners in Mission Control
Center drafting a "summary flight plan U for the followin 9 crew
work day that will start 32 hours later. This first team is
relieved by the so'called "execution" team (day team) of
flight controllers which carries out the existing detailed flight
plan for the immediate day. Then the flight planners on the next,
or "swing" shift develop from the summary flight plan a detailed
flight plan for the following day, nailing down the activity
details first summarized in the early morning hours --- and so on
in leapfrog fashion.

Daily flight plans pivot around experiment requirements


which have to be resolved, optimum crew time use, and mission
objectives still have to be met. Proposed summary flight plans
embrace the viewpoints of Skylab systems engineers, experiment
principal investigators, flight surgeons, mission management,
the flight crew and the weatherman's forecast for potential EREP
survey sites. Precedence is given to mandatory operations, ATM,
EREP and medical experiments, with other experiments and operations
filling the remaining time.

Revised summary flight plans will be reproduced daily and


distributed to newspersons at the JSC Newsroom, and the daily
crew teleprinter "loads" will be available for review at the
query desk.

DAILY CREW ACTIVITY

Skylab crew work days in space are not a whole lot different
from work days on Earth. The normal day starts at 6 a.m. and runs
until i0 p.m. CDT. Days off, however, are fewer and farther
between.

-more-
, 4 • J

-27-

Breakfast is at 7 a.m., lunch at noon and dinner at 6 p.m.


CDT --- except for the man on duty at the ATM console during
lunch, who shifts his meal time so that he can be relieved at
the console. Eight hours of sleep are normally scheduled each day.

During the mission the astronauts will be operating and


monitoring about 60 items of experimental equipment and performing
a wiae variety of tasas associated with the several hundred Skylab
scientific and technical investigations.

Depending upon experiment scheduling requirements, Skylab


crews have a day off about every seventh day.

About two 15-minute personal hygiene periods are scheduled


each day for each crewman and one hour and 30 minutes for physical
exercise. Additionally, an hour a day maybe set aside for R&R --
rest and relaxation. Another regularly scheduled activity each
day is two and a half hours of systems housekeeping, such as
cleaning of environmental control system filters, trash disposal
and wiping down the walls of the space station.

Mission Control Center flight planners fill the remaining


eight hours of the crew work day with experiment operations.

_more_
TYPICAL, CREW DAY
GM' 12 13 14. 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 1 2 I1

CDR POST ATM AT PASSI PT , ATM . KIHI


* PRE SLEEP,

M131-1'MO92/M171-1
/1-1K M131 ATM AT ETC kT/M SLEEP 5kEEP'
CMN SPT SLEEP SUB OBS SUB

!71
ACTIVITIES . "

PLT _API_j OBS-AT PASS-1. SUB OBS ,H!J" SLEEP

OAY/NIGm
II I I I m' ' ' '_ 'm" J ,' ' _ _1 J l'O
co
I

POSTSLEEP
ACTIVITIES PRE-SLEEP
ACTIVITIES

SYSTEM CONFIGURATION S/HK - SYSTEM HOUSEKEEPING EVENING MEAL


PH ATM(1to 2 PASSES)
URINE SAMPLING PH - PERSONALHYGIENE MISSION PLANNING
T003 EXPERIMENT RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES
BODY MASS MEASUREMENT PT - EXERCISE CONDENSATE DUMP
BREAKFAST TRASH AIRLOCK DUMP
DINNER PREP TVSU-TV SETUP FOOD RESIDUE WEIGHING
PRD READOUTS STATUS REPORT
LOAD FILM * TIMEAVAILABLEFOR T003 EXPERIMENT
REVIEW PADS COROLLARY EXPTS SYSTEM CONFIGURATION FOR SLEEP
STATUS REPORT PH

ML73-2330 BREAKFAST
PREP
-29-

' SKYLAB STATUS: WHAT HAPPENED

The unmanned Skylab space station was launched on May 14.


Approximately one minute after liftoff, at the time of highest
aerodynamic pressure, the meteoroid shield around the outside
of the workshop was torn off and apparently caused one of two
solar panels used to generate electricity for the laboratory also
to be torn away and jammed the other in a way that prevented its
full deployment.

The net result was that Skylab was in good orbit, but
had only about half of its power-generating capability in opera-
tion and the spacecraft was overheating. The overheating occurred
because the lost meteoroid shield also provided thermal balance.
It was painted in a way to reflect enough sunlight so that the
laboratory would stay cool.

A principle purpose of the meteoroid shield -- a thin alumi-


num skin .025 inch thick -- was to protect the Skvlab vehicle from
the possible impacts of tiny space particles by providing enough
resistance to make them splatter and lose energy before striking
the inner walls of the workshop.

Without the shield the workshop will be exposed to more


potential direct hits which might result in some minor air leaks
by the end of the 240-day mission. The pressurization system
is adequate to meet such a contingency.

The Skylab team responded quickly to the situation. The


first task was to stabilize conditions. Temperatures were in-
creasing rapidly. External skin temperatures were estimated to
be as high as 325 degrees Fahrenheit. There was concern that
the unrefrigerated on-board food, medicines, and film might
spoil.

The flight control team tried to find an attitude or


position of Skylab which would minimize the heating and at the
same time cast sufficient sunlight on the remaining solar cells,
those attached to the ATM, to generate the electricity required
to operate the space station. Ground controllers oriented the
orbiting space station from one attitude to another to control
temperatures and still obtain enough sunlight for power generation.

After a great deal of calculation, analysis and some experi-


mentation, inside temperatures were stabilized at approximately
125 degrees and power levels at about 2800 watts, which barely
covered the unmanned housekeeping requirements. Although some
food and medicines were assumed to have been spoiled, there remained
sufficient unspoiled food on board for all three missions, and
some of the medicines were replaced by the first crew to go aboard.

-more-
-30-

While the laboratory was being stabilized, it became very


clear that a fix would be required. The laboratory was too hot
for normal habitation and the temperature was too highto carry
out the medical experiments.

The temporary pitched-up attitude of the laboratory was


determined by the need to balance solar heating and power genera-
tion, and was therefore not fully appropriate for either the
solar experiments (which require precise pointing at the Sun)
or the Earth resources experiments (which require equally precise
pointing at the Earth). The best way to fix the Skylab was to
provide quickly a sunshade which would once again reflect away
the proper amount of sunlight so that the laboratory would remain
cool and regain its pointing flexibility.

By the third day after launch, a number of approaches to


thermal control had been well enough defined to develop a firm
design, development, manufacturing, test and training schedule.
The aerospace industry and NASA centers has responded fast and
well to the call for help. The crew launch date was then reset
for Friday , May 25, a delay of 10 days.

On the day before launch, three different sunshades were


selected to go along with the crew because no one really knew
what the astronauts would find when they rendezvoused with Skylab.
Officials didn't know if the meteoroid shield was completely and
cleanly severed or whether parts of it were obstructing areas
where the sunshade might be installed. By carrying several
different sunshades, the crew would at least have one suitable
for the situation.

One sunshade, called a SEVA sail, was a trapezoidal awning


to go on ropes that would stretch from the base of the Skylab work
shop to a hand rail on the apollo telescope mount. (SEVA refers
to standup extravehicular activity). One of the astronauts,
standing up in the hatch of the undocked command/service module,
would first attach ropes and hooks to the Skylab base. The CSM
would then be maneuvered toward the ATM where the converging
ropes would be attached at a single point, pulled taut and the
22-by-24-foot sail would be positioned over the workshop.

A different "twin-boom" sunshade was designed to be deployed


from the ATM truss assembly during an EVA. Two of the astronauts
would step out of the airlock in pressure suits, affix a special
bracket on the ATM structure, and attach to the bracket two long
poles that they had assembled from short sections. At the end
of each pole is a pulley with a rope threaded throug5 it. With
poles forming an inverted vee extending back over the workshop,
a sheet of reflecting material would be hooked on the ropes and
pulled, like a sail, to a position over the workshop where the
meteoroid shield should have been.

-more-
-31-

Actually used by the first Skylabcrew was the simpler parasol


concept that did not require an EVA. After docking and entering
the Skylab, the crew enxtended a folded canopy through the
scientific airlock on the Sun side of the workshop. Once outside
the spacecraft, the nylon and aluminized Mylar material was de-
ployed mechnically, like a parasol, to form a 22-by-24-foot
rectangular thermal shield over the workshop's exposed area.
This approach offered the least difficult means of quickly
bringing the heating problem under control.

The astronauts had trained with all three concepts at the


Johnson Space Center and in the zero-gravity simulator at the
Marshall Space Flight Center.

Prior to launch, program officials approved a stand-up EVA


from the undocked command module to remove any debris that covered
the scientific airlock and to attempt, if feasible, to free the
jammed solar array. The decision was made to carry bolt cutters,
tin snips, and a bending tool to help with the tasks.

On launch day, Pete Conrad, Joe Kerwin and Paul _eitz went
through launch and rendezvous, soft docked, prepared for stand-
UP EVA, undocked, and tackled the salvage problem. Weitz did
the stand-up EVA as Kerwin steadied his legs and Conrad maneuvered
the CSM.

The scientific airlock was clear of debris but the crew


found a length of 3/4-inch angle aluminum bent up and over the
solar array beam. The beam, deployed about five degrees, was
firmly restrained by the metal strap.

The angle aluminum strap has a series of bolts, one of which


apparently was driven into the .025 aluminum of the solar wing,
securely fastening it. The slope of the strap along the side
of the beam was such that the tools could not get a grip to pry
it away.

The next day, the astronauts followed procedures written


just two days earlier and deployed the parasol. By the llth
mission day the inside temperatures had dropped to 75 degrees.

Immediately after parasol deployment tSe crew started operating


experiments. They found that one, the S019 ultravi0iet stellar
astronomy experiment had a mirror tilt gear drive mecF_n_sm that
was jammed. They promptly disassembled and asse_51ed it again,
It's working fine.

Then, as temperatures dropped and flight planners _egan to


see daylight, Skylab encountered a new problem on day fzve.

-more-
-32-

During the first full EREP pass, the space station left
solar orientation and went to "local vertical" as planned.
This moves the solar arrays out of the sunlight and the batteries
go to discharge. On that first pass, four battery systems which
had gotten hot in the unmanned "pitch-up" attitude showed they
were taking less than one-half charge, and one battery system
dropped off the line completely. The loss was serious even though
there-are 18 such battery packs in the ATM power supply system.

However, the backup astronaut crew, plus a small sleepless


group of specialists had been continuing to work on proce4ures
to remove the strap that held the solar wing undeployed.

The procedures were radioed up On day 12, the crew practiced


in space (inside the workshop) on day 13, and went EVA on day 14.
Kerwin and Conrad cut the strap, broke a restraining bolt, and
erected the solar wing. Within hours the solar wing was supplying
electricity. Skylab was in full working order to carry out its
planned 270 scientific and technical investigations.

In addition, the crew performed a number of other actions


that saved certain experiments which otherwise could not have
functioned. And, on their EVA they solved the problem of a
malfunctioning ATM battery relay by banging on it with a hammer,
a repair technique warmly endorsed by appliance owners and
machinery operators everywhere.

The following summarizes the status of Skylab as it awaits


the next working crew:

i. ELECTRICAL POWER SYSTEM


The Skylab power system was operating Well and non.failures
or degradations were experienced in the latter phase of the first
manned visit. The average power generating capacity after the
crew left was ranging between 6700 watts and 8500 watts, depending
on the Sun angles. The average cluster loads were about 4700
watts without command module loads and will increase to about
5900 watts when command module loads are added. All eight air-
lock module battery regulator modules have been functioning well
since the astronauts deployed solar wing no. i. Electricity
generated by the workshop wing is fed to the airlock module (AM)
battery system.

Some degradations have occurred in the ATM Power System due


to the thermal stresses induced early in the mission. One of the
18 ATM charger battery regulator modules (CBRM) is inoperative.
Four CBRM's exposed to high temperatures had shown some degradation
in battery storage capacity but have recovered most of their
original capacity. One of the solar cell modules has had a i0
per cent degradation due to high temperatures and one regulator
was operating below specification during the daylight passes
reducing its integrated output to 80 per cent of capability.
However, the total Skylab power system shows sufficient margin
to accomplish the remaining two missions.

-more-
S
-33-

2. ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL SYSTEMS


The workshop internal temperatures were stabilized originally
at about 73 degrees Fahrenheit by the deployment of the parasol.
During the unmanned operations, temperatures rose to the mid-90s
due to increased time in the sunlight during each orbi_
, It is planned to deploy the twin-boom
sunshade early in the next mission to improve the shade coverage
and to counteract the effects of any ultraviolet degradation of
the parasol. In addition, a parasol of improved material will
be brought up by the crew to be availabl_ if needed.

_he airlock cooling system has been operating well and


effectively cooling the equipment. The system has supplied
sufficient cooling during EVA and is effectively controlling the
cluster humidity. An earlier malfunction of the thermal control
valve has been eliminated by a thermal/pressure cycling procedure
and the valves in both coolant loops are now modulating properly.

The ATM passive and active cooling systems also are operating
well.

In summary, the environmental control systems, except for


the loss of the meteoroid shield, retains original redundancies
and should satisfactorily complete the Skylab missions.

3. ATTITUDE CONTROL SYSTEM


In general, the attitude control system has functioned as
planned. Gyro drift rates have required more ground management
than was anticipated. The high drift has been attributed tenta-
tively to bubbles in the gyro fluid during vacuum operation.

The high drift rates do not generally present a problem


during solar inertial orientation since continuous gyro update
is possible during the daylight portion of each orbit. However,
during the early part of the mission, when off-nominal pointing
modes were required to control the thermal environment, alternate
means to verify the proper attitude were required.

The three control moment gyros (CMG) and digital computer


system are operating satisfactorily. Gravity gradient dumping
of angular momentum during_the dark portion of the orbit has been
satisfactory and has'prevented momentum saturation or unnecessary
usage of the thruster attitude control system (TACSI.

Due to the early off nominal pointing modes, significantly


more TACS propellants were used than anticipated. The amount
remaining,about 44 per Cent of the pre-mission total, is sufficient
for nominal 3 CMG or 2 CMG operation for the last two missions.
If problems develop similar to the initial SL-I operation, TACS
augmentation is posslble by means of the CSM Reaction Control
System during the manned phases.

-more-
-34-

4. HABITABILITY SUPPORT SYSTEMS


All elements of the Habitability Support Systems have been
functioning as specified without any significant anomalies. The
workshop waste management system operation has received very
favorable comments from the crew. The system has functioned
as planned and the crew has been pleased with the shower.
Similarly, the Skylab feod and operation of the systems for food
preparation have satisfied the crew.

The food refrigeration system operated flawlessly throughout


the first unmanned and manned phases. During Skylab deactivation,
however, a malfunction in the radiator by-p@ss valve resulted
in rising freezer temperatures. The redundant secondary refri-
geration loop exhibited similar characteristics. Continuous
on-off cycling of the by-pass Valve in the primary system resulted
in reversal of the warming trend and brought temperatures back
to near normal. A trouble shooting procedure has been developed
to insure proper operation of the secondary system in the event
its use becomes necessary during the manned part of the next
mission.

5. INSTRUMENTATION AND COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM


Voice communication between the Skylab and Mission Control
has been good during station passes and tape recorderdumDs. TV
quality, both in real time and through video tape recorder trans-
mission, was excellent.
one of Skylab's two color TV cameras became inoperative but
two new cameras will be resupplied on the SL-3 launch.

One of the three active airlock module tape recorders became


inoperative after 843 hours of operation and was replaced by the
crew. Later, this replacement recorder malfunctioned during
the unmanned phase after 320 hours of operation. Four spare tape
recorders were aboard Skylab originally.

As a result of these malfunctions, tape recorder _operations


during the second mission's unmanned phase has been reduced to
three hours per day. Two new tape recoders will be brought up
on SL-3 to fully restore the spares inventory.

One Df the airlock's three 10-watt transmitters failed and


was replaced by switching to the 2-watt transmitter without
degrad&tion of experiment or systems data transmissions.
Additional transmitter failures, however, would degrade data
transmission capability. Consequently, studies are underway at
MSFC to determine the feasibility of transmitter replacement
during the final mission.

-more-
-35-

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

The first Skylab manned mission made significant con-


tributions to the basic purpose for which the space station
program was established. All mission objectives of SL-I/2
were successfully accomplished.

Broadly summarized, the accomplishments were as follows:

i. Approximately 80% of the solar data planned has been


obtained. Major scientific accomplishment was monit-
oring of solar flare on June 15.

2. Eleven of the fourteen Earth resources data runs


planned were accomplished. (6 experiments/instruments
were Operated for 77 Prlncipal Investigators)

3. All medical experiments (16) were conducted as required


by the operational medical protocols. The time history
of man's adaptation to the zero-g environment obtained
for the first time.

4. Data was taken on all experiments scheduled for SL-2


except those that could not be accomplished due to
use of the solar airlock for parasol deployment and
weight or power limitations.

5. Data was obtained on five student investigations.


Two student investigations are rescheduled for
SL-3 (EDI2 Volanic Study, ED22 Objects in Mercury's
Orbit, data could not be obtained because of orbit
track or location of astronomical body).

Major support form the astronauts included:

Maintenance: Experiment door pinned; coronagraph


occulating disk dusted off; faulty camera replaced;
and battery package relay was released.

Scientifically_ Through astronaut alertness the


early portion, or development, of a solar flare
was observed with all ATM instruments.

more -
-36-

EXPERIMENTS SU_4ARY:

Not all of the returned pictures and other data are


expected to be completely useful for the scientific investi-
gations. For example, cloud cover and procedural problems
will have reduced the usefulness of some of the EREP pictures.
Similarly, equipment problems, exposure settings and other
difficulties may have reduced the scientific product to be
expected form some ATM and other astronomy pictures. As data
from the first manned mission are analyzed procedures are
being developed to provide improved efficiency for obtaining
scientific observations on the second mission.
-37-

ATM ACCOMPLISHMENTS SUM_IARY

'.4ANNED VIEWING TIME 81 hrs

SOLAR VIEWING PERIODS (passes) 76 FULL 29 PARTIAL

FILM USAGE (frames) USED PLANNED

$052 4519 8025

$054 6739 6976

S056 4296 6000

S082A 219 201

S082B 1608 1608

TOTAL 17377 22810 76%

*S052, S054 and S055 CONTINUE TO OPERATE IN UNMANNED MODE


EREP ACCOMPLISHMENTS
•, ,, •
SUMMARY

• DATA COLLECTED

MULTISPECTRAL CAMER_ (sIgOA) 6500 FRAMES

EARTHTERRAIN C_MERA(S190B) 960 FRAMES

INFRARED SPECTROMETER (S191 Daba Acq. Camera) 5400 PRAMES

SCANNER (192), INFRARED SPECTROF_TER (191) &

MICROWAVE SENSORS (193, 19_) _I,000 FT. MAGNETIC TAPE


• DATA COLLECTED OVER

X 31 STATES
& PUERTO
RIC0 co
I

X 6 FOREIGN CODS_TRIES, _XICO, BRAZIL, _)LIVIA, NICARAGUA, COLUMBIA,


AND C _/TADA.

X GULF OF MEXICO, CARIBBEAN SEA, PACIFIC/ATLANTIC OCEANS

• DATA OBTAINED FOR 75 PRINCIPAL IKVESTIGATORS, (66 U.S. and 9 FOREIGN)


P/_D FOR SENSOR PERFORMANCE EVALUATIONS

• DATA WAS COLLECTED FOR 186 INDIVIDUAL TASKS ON SL-2


-39-

ACHIEV_ PLA_N_

ATM
MANNED VIEWING TIME 81 HRS [Ol HRS. 817.
EXPER]_ENT FILM 17,352 FRAMES 22,810 FRAMES 75%
H-ALPHA-I FILM 13,000 FRAMES [6,000 FRAMES

EREP
PASSES Ii (SSHORT) 14 79_
ETC PASSES 6 i0 607.
PHOTOS 7460 9000 837,
TAPE REELS 6 6
186 TASK SITES COVERED) DATA TAKEN FOR 75 INVEST_C_TIONS

MEDICAL

PERFORMANCES 137 [47 93%


MAN HOURS [48 158 947.
ALL PLANNED URINE, BLOOD, & FECES SAMPLES TAKEN (EXCEPT FIRST 3 DAYS
URINE IS UNKNOWN)

COROLLARIES

SCIENTIFIC AIRLOCK 32 MAN HRS. 38 MAN HRS. 84%


OTHER COROLLARIES 22 MAN HRS. _4 MAN }_S. 1577_
UV ASTRONOMY PASSES 10 16
MATERIALS SCIENCE 9 10
OPERATIONS
FOUR ASSIGNED EXPERIMENTS NOT PERFORMED - $020, T025, S015, H555

STUDENTS

BACTERIA & SPORES, 4 MAN HRS. 4% MAN HRS.


NEUTRON ANALYSIS
DATA FOR ATMOSPHERIC ABSORPTION OF P_%DTANT HEAT, U.V. FROM QUASARS,
U.V. FROM PULSARS
-4_-

SKYLAB BETT,_EN vI,qIT,_

The second Skylab mission is in t_o parts: Unmanned and


manned. The unmanne_ portion has been underway since, June 22
at 4:55 AM EDT when the Conrad/Ker_in/[,Teitz cre_ undocked from
Skylab. The manned portion, a 56-day _orkout, will start _4hen
the Bean/Garriott/Lousma cre_ docks with the space station.

The ATM experiments which can operate in the _inmanne_ con--


figuration (SO52, S054, and E055) are not only contin1_ing their
long range observational programs, bllt gathered unique 4a%a in
support of numr_rous international ground base_ and rocket observa-
tions of the J11ne 30 eclipse.

Highest priorit V _a s placed upon the eight to ten orbits


bracketing the eclipse where the combined _T_ and groun4 bases
observations were used to determine temporal evolution of solar
features. Observations during the days before and after the
eclipse permitted the study of the three.-dimensional structure
of various solar features and hence, increased the value of
non-ATM observations during the eclipse.

Each:0f the _2M experiments also has more specific goals


during this time.

The data obtained by the $052 r'_ite Light Coronagraph (High


Altitude Observatory) provided a cross calibration with 3q
collaborators on the polarization of the corona since ground-based
observers must contend with an additional polarization contribution
from the _arth's atmosphere.

The S054 X-Ray gDectrographic Telescope (.American Science


and Engineering) obtained a series of solar images with its thinnest
filter (in the wavelength ranges 3.5-36 and 44-6_ Angstroms) for
collaboration with ground based observations and to identify
transient features during the time of the eclipse.

-more--
-41-

The S055 Ultraviolet Scanning Polychromator-Spectroheliometer


(Harvard College Observatory) studied specific features which
occurred at the solar limb at the time of the eclipse. Additional
ultraviolet spectra of these features obtained over a longer
time span will specifically augment the data taken by a rocket
experiment launched in Mauritania.

The data taken by S055 were sent via telemetry to the ground
to be processed by the experimenter for use by the ground obser-
vers of the eclipse. Experiments S_52 and S054 photographed the
eclipse events. Their film will be retrieved at the end of the
Skylab 3 mission in late Septembe r .

Between crew visits to the Skylab space station, ground


controllers become sort of absentee landlords for the station.
Experiments and systems status monitoring and off/on commanding
is handled remotely through data and command telemetry links from
the Mission control Center at Houston.

The Skylab cluster remained in the solar inertial attitude


after the first Skylab crew undocked for return to Earth. _he
space station's attitude and pointing control system kept the
ATM telescopes aligned %_ith the Sun.

Skylab internal pressure is vented down from five to about


two pounds per square inch after the Skylab crews depart.

Attitude pointing and control systems and both major electrical


systems in the space station remain fully "up" during unmanned
periods. The telemetry and command systems also stay "live"
to relay systems information to ground controllers and to accept
commands for housekeeping functions and data retrieval. The
environmental control system remains inactive, except for the
refrigeration system and some thermal control components.

-more-
-42-

A number of passive Skylab experiments require long term


exposure in space to acquire the desired scientific data. While
the orbiting station has been unmanned the following experiments
have been in operation:

i. S149 - particle collection - Four cassettes with polished


surfaces are being exposed to collect micrometeorites and dust
particles. The cassette holder is extended on a boom through
a scientific airlock.

2. $228 - trans-uranic cosmic rays --_n array Of plastic


modules comprised of 0.010 inch thick sheets _7ilI be exposed till
the end of the third manned mission to attempt So determine the
existence of high-Z cosmic rays. Unit is inside the workshop.

3. $230 - ma_netos_heric particle composition - A collection


of foils (aluminum, platinum, aluminum oxide) are mounted on an
exterior strut where they can be bombarded by rare gases (helium,
neon, argon). Samples will be returned after each mission and
the isotopic abundance of the gases collected in the foils will
be compared with the abundance found on the lunar surface.

4. D024 - thermal control coatings- One set of paint


and film samples (2 arrays) were returned by the first crew.
A second set, with longer exposure to the space environment,
will be returned by the next crew.

5. ED76 - neutron analysis - Ten detectors are measuring


the ambient neutron flux at Skylab orbital altitudes. Four
detectors were returned by the first crew. The remaining six
will be returned on the last mission.
-43-

SKYLAB AND RELATED OBJECTS VISIBLE

NASA will continue to distribute information enabling


people in most populated areas of the world to see the Sky-
lab space station as it orbits the Earth.

Skylab is visible to the unaided eye only in clear


skies during the two hours before dawn and after dusk --
when the viewer is in the Earth's shadow and the space
station is in the Sunlight at its orbiting altitude of
435 kilometers (270 miles). Sunlight reflected off por-
tions of the large spacecraft is what makes Skylab visible.

The space station under the best visual conditions,


will appear approximately as bright as the brightest star
in the sky. It will be moving easterly fast enough to be
easily distinguishable from stars and may be visible for
as long as seven minutes.

There has been some confusion on the part of Skylab


watchers because of other visible objects traveling along
the same track both ahead of and behind the space station.

These other objects were launched with Skylab and in-


clude four jettisoned, separate panels from the payload
cover, the Saturn booster's S-II second stage, a jettisoned
radiator shield and one unidentified object. Relative po-
sitions of the objects and Skylab keep changing from day
to day. As in a 500-mile auto race, some of the objects
go faster and overlap the slower ones.

Skylab is in a stable attitude and its brightness va-


ries gradually as it moves across the star field. The other
objects are tumbling in flight and seem to slowly blink
on and off. An exception is the large S-II stage which is
even brighter than Skylab. The stage is large, cylindrical
and painted white. These features give it high and fairly
steady visibility even though it tumbles as it orbits.

Sighting information for key cities is computed and


issued every two weeks by the NASA Marshall Space Flight
Center, Huntsville, Ala.

Ground areas that Skylab crosses include all of the


U. S. except Alaska, a strip of Southern Canada, all of
South America, China, Africa, Australia, India, most of
Asia and southern portions of U_R.

NASA/KSC JUL/73

|
-44--

The space laboratory flies over 89 per cent of the


world's population and 65 per cent of the Earth's land
areas as it orbits from 50 degrees north of the Equator t
to 50 degrees south.

Skylab is 36 meters (118 feet) long and its solar


cell arrays are about 31 meters (i00 feet) from tip to
£ip.

-end-

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